REPORT ON THE BODYBUILDING SHOW - FIGURE COMPETITION - AGAIN

It was soooooooooo long.

I was always taught that it is rude to arrive late and leave early during a live show.

I learned something today. You frigging have to do it at a body building show or die of starvation,dehyration and extreme boredom.

The 'theatre' does not allow food to be consumed inside (not even a damned protein bar although the lobby is full of sales booths) yet people were bringing the judges food and snacks - I almost grabbed stuff off their plates and I was a spectator. And eating in front of starving competitors - how mean is that?

It is the second show I have attended. The first was in November in Toronto. That show was short and sweet.

There were a whole bunch fewer competitors in Toronto. I don't know why that was. It is a very big city. Perhaps the competition had qualifiers such as prior wins where the Kelowna one does not.

It was the "Western Canadian Tested Bodybuilding Show"

Categories: body building men - junior, light, medium, heavy and ?light heavy, masters, grand masters - same with womens - minus the junior category. Then short, medium, medium tall, tall figure competitors, masters figure and fitness.

Yikes there were a lot of competitors. Particularly women. The other interesting thing is most of the figure competitors had far better physiques that the ones in Toronto. Go figure! Way to go BC - you are getting it right.

All I could say - was - how the heck are the judges going to pick? They all have similar beautiful physiques - I have no idea how they will choose.

That is when the fun began. Jeepers Creepers. Because there were so many in each lineup they had to bring up smaller sub groups and put them all through the poses, then the next subgroup and so on...it was a blur

The morning prejudging which I though should be over in no more than 2 hours - went on for 5 hours. I ran out of steam at 4 hours and had to leave. My tapeworm fainted at least three times. I wasn't even competing. Those poor women having to hold their poses soooo long and in the starving and dehydrated competition mode.

I would not leave however, until I saw the entertainment part. For me that is watching the fitness class routines - holy cow those women are flexible, strong and entertaining.

The evening show was no faster - for that part, they give 'bios' too. As well as the manditory I'd like to thank my mother, father, cousin Emilio, sister Sheila, Body Fit Gym etc etc...2 1/2 hours into the evening show, they still had not yet made it to the figure competition class - the group I really wanted to see. We were only about 1/3 way through the show. Heck - had to leave without seeing what I went for so I will have to look up the winners on line.

Yes the male body builders were hot and one Vernonite Darrin won his class but believe it or not I don't have time to spend looking at hot men. Although I very much admire the female body builders dedication and accomplishment, it is just not my area of interest either. Just not me. So both those categories and sub categories of each were first.

And hubby, bless him, sat through all of it with me uncomplaining (him not me)but in the end it was me who wanted to leave first - weird. But I am not toning my @$$ as long as I am sitting on it watching others pose for hours on end.

I was in learning mode so I did learn a few things.

Lesson 1. Get the schedule ahead of time and go only in time to watch the class of interest and leave when they are done. That is acceptable spectator behaviour for this type of show. Some people just attend to see one competitor and leave immediately after.

Next.
A group of older women I met last year were lobbying to have the grand masters figure added otherwise we over 50 year olds are competiting against 35 year olds. I am 26 years older than that. For some reason they have grandmasters bodybuilding but not figure. I guess the group I mentioned did not succeed because the category is still absent and I see they did not bother to compete this year. I don't blame them. What is the point.

So.

Lesson 2. If I want to compete in this show next year it would have to be in the women's grand masters body building not figure and I don't I am not interested. So...I'll find another show.

And
I find it is easy to strike up conversations at these things. So I happened to notice the woman behind me was very 'bodybuilding' looking and had a perfect tan. I was 'pre-worried' about the tanning stuff and was hoping to find a sunless, tanning bedless method of tanning. So I asked her "What tanning method do you use?"

She said it was an airbrush method which she does herself and told me she air brushed her competitors the day before. She said it was much better than the tanning spray booths and added that no pre-tanning in the sun or tanning bed was required. It was awesome - I got her business card. She also mentioned she was a personal trainer and had 6 girls in the competition. She teaches posing and I have been looking for someone who at least lives in the Province who teaches posing. But I was most interested in the tanning method.

Lesson 3.

One of her competitors was sweating a bit holding excessively long poses under hot lights. OMG. Big brown/black streaks with a streak of white where it dripped off streamed down her neck, chest, and tummy. I don't think she knew. We were very very embarassed for her and I have no idea how she would feel when she realized what happened when she got backstage. I for one would kill my trainer/tanner. Or at the very least maim them.

Eeeewww kay back to square one on the tanning.

On to the next lesson.

During the morning pre-judging I recognized a Vancouver personal trainer/promoter who I happened to know had a bunch of her personal training clients in the show - she was at the judges table. I thought that is weird. I said out loud isn't that ..........so and so??!!!!What'sup with that?

A guy beside me whose wife was competing in figure said - yeah and oh boy is it hot backstage. The competitors are livid and saying what a conflict of interest it is.. and how unfair is that... and it is all so political....

Lesson 4. Appears body building may be like olympic skating. Just great.

Lesson 5 - ignore, put head in sand, train, eat clean, get ripped ;)

BODY BUILDING COMPETITION - HOMEWORK - ATTENDING ONE - AGAIN

Attending as many body building competitions as I can is part of my homework for training for the body for one.

Ok for those who wished me luck today......I am not competing! I am watching.

It is educational and inspirational. Sometimes long and boring too :)

My first was the IDFA Natural Body Building competition in Toronto in November 2008. It left me a bit confused at the time although I found it exciting. Tosca Reno and Robert Kennedy of Oxygen Magazine were sitting right in front of me.

Tosca explained on one of her blogs that even though the figure category sort of came about for the 'in between competitors' the ones who weren't interested in model competition and the ones who did not want to compete in body building, it appears that the judges are tending to pick the more muscular women. This almost requires another category once again - I guess it would be the in between in between.

I found that in most cases I did not understand the judging choices but Tosca's comment probably sums it up - the contestants seem to be migrating toward the body building physique again in figure competition. So I am very interested to see what the upcoming competition is like in the judging.

In was in the Gym Bag buying my tickets when a very tall attractive woman came in. I overhead the conversation and it was not a stretch that she was competing.

I thought thank God I am not tall - or young - I would hate to have to be competing against her. At the same time she inspired me.

So ..we'll see what the local competition is like....

TRAINING AND DIET ON THE GO

I was just on the road for four days.

The first hotel I stayed at - I arrived at 9.30 pm and after a long drive looked forward to a hard work out in the gym. Not. The gym was under renovations. It was too dark and an unfamiliar neighbourhood to go for a run. I could have figured out something but preferred to wait until I could do my full workout the next day. We went out for the most delicious Thai meal instead. I just concentrated on dishes with lots of veggies and protein and no rice or noodles.

The next few days were great - I had the Vancouver sea wall to walk/run as well as a great gym at the next hotel by the time I was due to do my weight training.

The gym was packed and all the participants very lean - a number of Gwyneth Paltrow type physiques from way too much cardio and no toning along with a few awesome female physiques - lean and toned with great muscle definition - that inspired me.

And what a great venue - on the treadmill watching all the activity of hundreds of people walking, jogging, cycling, roller blading outside along the ocean. I briefly found it hard to believe there was an obesity problem in Canada.

The biggest problem was diet. Generally I pack a cooler but the trip was too long for that and I was short on time.

Oh boy. Upscale restaurants just do not want to do plain unadorned food and a lean plate. One morning at breakfast the closest thing I could find to healthy without a ton of carbs and fat was an egg white veggie omelete with low fat goat cheese. Hold the tropical fruit, hold the potatoes and hold the toast. They want to load you up with starches. I rarely eat starches so I am sure that diet habit is one of the secrets of my successful weight loss. It basically is a filler. Think about that. Do your body and GI system a favour and fill up with fruits complex carbs and fibrous carbs - veggies

The waiter just could not leave it alone. He wanted to bring me stuff. He felt the plate was bare - I should have had him bring a smaller plate ;) Finally I let him add some broiled tomatoes 'pesto.' I didn't have the heart to tell him I eat about every 2 to 2 1/2 hours and eat six smaller meals and I don't need a huge 3 meal a day diet.

Everyone else had the buffet a total waste of money for me. If you have a buffet it is because you intend to get your money's worth - not a great idea for your body. It will simply store your 'money's worth' as fat.

I tell my husband "don't worry about me" I can usually adapt something off the menu but dinner on Friday night was a real challenge. At the chosen restaurant there was nothing unadorned - everything was dripping in rich sauces. I could not even find a simple salad.

Finally for an appe I had the iceberg lettuce wedge NOTHING ON IT. The waiter looked at me increduously his eyes saying "you have to be kidding" People especially staff at restaurants don't seem to believe I actually prefer to eat plain and simply. I love the way I feel. Anytime I eat rich foods I feel awful after and I don't enjoy feeling that way.

Anyhow, I had the plain lettuce brought. He was very relieved when I agreed to accept olive oil and balsamic vinegar. I did not say I would not put anything on it. I just wanted to make the choice.

Ooohkay so next came the entre. I wanted Ahi tuna rare nothing else - no rice - no potatoes. They had to throw something on the plate so I asked for seasonal veggies and a few tomato slices. It was great. I eat carbs but I am very carb sensitive and I eat mostly fibrous carbs and eat complex carbs earlier in the day or I would be asleep in my plate. We were also going to be attending a formal dinner where I would have no control over what was being served and I would have to eat clean until then so that I would not end up ill.

After my meal instead of having to undo my pants and feel drowsy and sick and have stomach cramps and bloating, I felt great.

My dessert was coffee. My friend and I asked for a side of milk instead of cream. Hey maybe I am demanding but isn't it interesting that I like things very plain but I am the demanding one? Huh?

So at the formal I did have all the things that usually make me sleepy, bloated and ill no choice - if I didn't I would have been starving. It just isn't cool to pack a cooler to a formal military dinner.

I felt dreadful within hours and the next day. I guess I will have to eat ahead of time next time and forego the pre-picked meal.

SANDRINA TALKS ABOUT KEEPING FIT IN MEXICO

Byline by Sandrina

I live in Mexico and am a professional dancer. I teach, perform and attempt to keep in shape by walking everywhere. In this country full of fabulous meals that consist of staples like beans and rice, flour and corn tortillas, the richest sour cream, the most amazing custard flan and not to mention the best junk food I've ever encountered, it can be a challenge to eat healthily all the time. Tequila doesn't count as food does it? There are gyms in my city, but I never see any women in them. I have been tempted to attend the one down my street, but have fears about what I will encounter in a place full of so much testosterone. Best to go for walks with my dog Magdalena, although she sniffs incesantly at every corner and has happily embraced mexican time. Not a brisk walk by any means.

Once we finally make it the 6 or 7 blocks to the beach, she gets to run free, and chase her ball while I finally get to walk faster and run after the ball to keep it from getting swallowed by the Pacific when she loses interest for something smelly and more interesting. Who would think that a stroll on the beach could be so exhausting, but we seem to always work up an appetite. No really, believe me, it is a very long beach.

Ah, where to start about the food. There's no reason to cook at home although I do enjoy it when I'm feeling inspired and have company. But at the outdoor market near where I live, there are three little lunch counters all in a row that serve meals all day. I like to watch the amazing women rolling masa harina into balls and pressing them into tortilllas. I can order a whole meal for less than four dollars. Today I had Carne Asada; which is a fancy term for a thin piece of beef steak, with a little salad, and of course: tortillas, beans and rice. There is a major lack of green vegetables with food served in restaurants. Unless you cook veggies at home yourself, you can go weeks without ever encountering a bit of broccoli.

But really, tacos are the most popular food in Mexico, cliche as it sounds. Even in the middle of the night, one can always find a taco cart on the street. They also exist for breakfast, lunch or whenever. Some tacos are served sit down at the front restaurant portion of people's homes. Tacos look and taste nothing like what we are taught in Canada is a taco. These are soft flour or corn tortillas, about 6 inches round, freshly made and warm and what goes in them is almost unlimited. Whatever it is, it's just a scoop on top of the taco, you add the garnish of onions, salsas, cilantro etc. and then fold it over and that's it. Tacos with roasted meat in little pieces either beef or pork and cooked in a myriad of ways. The organs and other parts of the pig are never wasted and make wonderful tacos. I"m talking lips, tonque, brains, feet, deep fried skin, you name it. And it's very tasty, each in its unique gravy. You can get tacos with shrimp, fish, or made with prickly pear cactus called Nopal. It is de-needled, and cut up in lovely green slices and fried. And very good for you. On practically every corner, you will find a roasted chicken stand.

Carbohydrates seem to be the most apparent and abundant food, and of course the most inexpensive. Corn is everywhere, in cakes and deserts, in tortillas, and soups and also served as Elote; which is taken fresh off the cob and served in a plastic cup with a little of the cooking water, mayonaise, powdered cheese and lots of salsa and lime. It's actually very tasty, however, the evidence of a high carb diet is really noticeable in the love handles of almost everyone over the age of 25. Nobody eats a meal without a handful of tortillas and Coca Cola ranks as a national beverage. Fitness isn't really a high priority for a society where getting enough to eat is often the main goal for the day. Keeping healthy and fit is a luxury for many. But it does exist, in the more financially stable. As in any country, its a question of economics.

And another thing I've noticed; Mexican women in general, are definitely more curvaceous than what is thought to be a typical American standard of beauty. And what is cool is that these curvy fleshy women are adored by their men. This is one of the reasons I love latin society; large bottoms, curvy hips and a "little extra" of everything are highly desirable traits. Here, I notice the women move with grace and sensuality, they don't fuss about whether their tummy is sticking out of their pants, or whether there is a jiggle at the back of their legs as they strut their high heels down the steet in short shorts that I would loath to be caught wearing in public. They ooze confidence while retaining the charm of vanity since like most women I know, they have a love affair with clothes, makeup and hair products. Perhaps as my time here increases, I too will don a pair of short shorts and high heels and (in public view) walk effortlessly over the crazy cobblestones roads.